I’ve been mulling this around since posting the last Foursquarearticle and thought that there were more practical tips could be added.

Foursquare is a hugely untapped and powerful little tool for business marketing, especially if you own a business that requires customers to physically visit your location to make a purchase. Unfortunately most businesses don’t understand just exactly how they can use Foursquare and are missing out on a fantastic and inexpensive marketing opportunity!!

So here are five very practical tips on how to use Foursquare to market your location-based business.

1. Use Foursquare like a customer loyalty card

The cool thing about Foursquare is it shows the user how many times they have been at each location, so you could offer customers a freebie after so many check ins. Make sure you set clear rules about how to redeem the offer including: check ins more than once per day do not count towards redemption of the free offer; or free offer value at $5.00, may not be accumulated or transferred, may not be redeemed for cash, etc.

The women’s clothing store Ann Taylor recently launched a Foursquare promotion like this in New York City giving shoppers 15% off at the store after their 5th check in and giving the person with the most check ins at one location (called the Mayor) 25% off their purchase at that visit.

Another company, Tasti D-Lite, offers frequent shoppers a branded Foursquare badge, as well as additional loyalty points on their physical loyalty card, plus freebies and other perks.

2. Organize a real-time treasure hunt.

Now this could get really fun. Leave a clue of the day on the “Tips” section of your Foursquare page with the answer to each clue being a different special of the day. The customers who come in and guess the special, get the special, plus they are eligible to win a bigger prize at the end of the contest.

Another company, Jimmy Choo, a high-end designer footwear brand, runs this contest by having a pair of Jimmy Choo sneakers check in at various hot spots around town. The person who is able to guess the next hot spot and arrive there before the Jimmy Choo shoes arrive will win a pair of very expensive shoes.

3. Use Foursquare to entice new customers to come into your store by offering a 1st Timers check in discount or freebie.

“Show us your check-in and your dessert is on us!” Again, make sure you communicate clearly in your offer what the rules are; i.e., free dessert is only for first check in, and must be redeemed with purchase of a meal; etc.”

4. Leverage word of mouth marketing.

One of the benefits of Foursquare is that friends can “follow” each other and thus can see each other’s check in’s on Foursquare. Note: The check in’s are also posted on Twitter, Facebook and Yelp, if they’ve enabled the function. This is huge for your business because every check in at your location is a tacit recommendation from the person checking in there. Leverage this exposure by inviting people to check in via Foursquare. Providing special offers for those who check in via Foursquare will invite people to check in more often.

Also, make sure you pay attention to what people are saying on Foursquare about your business, because whether you use it or not, people are using it, and chance are, they are talking about your business. Personally reply back to people who leave tips or make positive comments and thank them. Likewise, it’s just as important to respond to negative comments as well and to remedy the issue as soon as possible. Don’t be negative; just say something like, “I’m sorry that you had a bad experience. Let’s get it touch and discuss how we can make it up to you.”

5. Tie in text message marketing with Foursquare.

Invite people to take photos of them having fun or otherwise enjoying your location and text the photos to a special text message phone number. Once they do this they will have opted into your text message marketing program and you will be able to send them additional specials and discounts via text.

What other ways can you use Foursquare to market your high traffic location based business? I would love to hear your comments. Next post, how to market your non-location based business on Foursquare.

Wendy Kenney is a nationally known Buzz Building Expert and the Founder and CEO of 23 Kazoos,a marketing firm specializing in inexpensive and creative small business marketing strategies. She has honed her marketing skills through over 26 years of entrepreneurship and business management.

]]>http://www.startupnation.com/start-your-business/launch-a-home-business/5-ways-to-use-foursquare-to-market-your-location-based-business/feed/54Get More Customers with Foursquarehttp://www.startupnation.com/start-your-business/get-more-customers-with-foursquare/
http://www.startupnation.com/start-your-business/get-more-customers-with-foursquare/#commentsSun, 11 Jul 2010 14:04:55 +0000http://www.startupnation.com/blogs/?p=4762Note: This is a guest post by Social Media DIY Foursquare is currently one of the most popular services that combines social networking and location-based social media. Launched in spring 2009, it includes businesses in more than 100 cities across the United States with more than 300,000 users. Foursquare allows customers to check-in when they arrive [...]

Foursquareis currently one of the most popular services that combines social networking and location-based social media. Launched in spring 2009, it includes businesses in more than 100 cities across the United States with more than 300,000 users. Foursquare allows customers to check-in when they arrive at your business. This becomes a game as users compete against each other to have the most check-ins at your business to become the mayor of your business. In addition, Foursquare users earn badges based on their level of involvement and consistency in checking in. Foursquare has mobile applications for the iPhone, Android phones, and the BlackBerry, and allows other users to check in using their mobile website.

You don’t need a Foursquare account to access information about your business. Do a search on your business name. Skim through the search results to find your business. Click on your business name to display a page about your business. The page includes a link to Google Maps but doesn’t provide access to your Place Page(if your business has one).

If your business isn’t listed in Fourquare, you need a free account to add it. One of the options for a place search results allows you to add a new business. The form is simple and collects basic location information. When you add your business, you can add your Twitter account, a smart idea for reaching your mobile customers.

The most valuable information here are the statistics that show you the number of people who have checked in at your business and the names of these users. Most people have a photograph avatar, so you can start to identify your Foursquare customers when they arrive. You can also see your current mayor.

Foursquare wants to help your business advertise to its users. They will help your business set up a special badge for your business that users earn by meeting a criteria you set (number of visits, etc.) They will also advertise your current mayor promotion to people checking in at your business or at nearby businesses.

Your turn:Have you been monitoring customer check-ins at your business through Foursquare? Have you used any of their advertising or promotion services? Share your experience here.

The Social Media DIY Workshopis for small business people who want to learn social media. The workshop consists of articles, ebooks, and videos that explain social media topics. Use these resources to create your customized learning experience. Learn what you want to build a customized do-it-yourself (DIY) social media program for your business, non-profit, or government agency.

Wendy Kenney is a nationally known Buzz Building Expert and the Founder and CEO of 23 Kazoos, a marketing firm specializing in inexpensive and creative small business marketing strategies. She has honed her marketing skills through over 26 years of entrepreneurship and business management.